The Rising Stars of the insurance and investment industries — Building a successful life business within a P&C firm

In less than 10 years, Ryan Riffel has built a book of business so large he manages a team today to help him serve his clients. The Million Dollar Round Table qualifier began as a life insurance broker with Knight Archer Insurance back in 2009. Since then he’s become the company’s vice president of the life and benefits department. He oversees the work of six agents and one administrative assistant, and has plans to expand so that every Knight Archer office in Saskatchewan and Manitoba eventually has a life insurance representative working within it. The company currently has 15 offices across the two provinces, serving roughly 60,000 customers.

“We’re very prominent when it comes to personal (home and auto) insurance,” he says. “I think we’re just scratching the surface when it comes to life insurance. I would like Knight Archer to be the dominant life and benefits provider in the prairie provinces.”

Whether a client has $200 or $25 to spend on premiums, Riffel has a policy of treating each with the same respect and consideration.

“I have the ability to help ensure that families are taken care of. It’s a product that everybody needs. We’re selling something that is a necessity, that will help them minimize their risk and grow their wealth,” he says. “And you can do that with anybody. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Instead of chasing large cases, he encourages his agents to operate in the same way. “I would caution new advisors. They sit in a webinar and then try to go after the big fish,” he says. “They chase the shark. They will think that sharks are the only ones who need insurance. Even if they get the case, they neglect and ignore the majority of Canadians who could benefit from their services.”